TW201836178A - Bi-directional neuron-electronic device interface structures - Google Patents

Abstract

An interface structure for a biological environment including at least one composite electrical impulse generating layer comprising a matrix phase of a piezo polymer material, a first dispersed phase of piezo nanocrystals, and second dispersed phase of carbon nanotubes, the first and second dispersed phase presented through the matrix phase. The piezo polymer material and piezo nanocrystal convert mechanical motion into electrical impulses and accept electrons to charge the composite impulse generating layer. The carbon nanotubes provide pathways for distribution of the electrical impulses to a surface of the composite impulse generating layer contacting the biological environment. The carbon nanotubes further provide for the delivery of the byproducts of the free radical degradation from the biological environment to both piezo-nanocrystals and piezo-polymer.

Description

Bidirectional neuron-electronic device interface structure

Cross-reference to related applications This application request was filed on January 31, 2017. It is entitled "A sustainable self-powered bi-directional neuron-silica interface technology" in the US Provisional Application No. 62 / 452,892. This document is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present invention generally relates to an interface with a biological environment, which can generate and transmit electrical pulses, and receive electrical pulses from a biological environment, and more specifically relates to an interface composed of piezoelectric materials and nanostructures.

The interaction between biological systems and machinery or electrical machines has been beneficial to humans for centuries. With the discovery of the electrical and electrical properties of nerves and muscles, there have been many attempts to establish functional interfaces between the body and machines or artificial / repair devices.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a method to solve the replacement problem of loss of function in neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease. The current DBS device is an electrical device composed of 2-4 electrodes implanted in the brain and wired to a portable battery-powered device usually implanted in the chest area. The battery is placed under the skin of the chest. Routine battery replacement is every 5 years or more. Maintenance, replacement and possible hardware failures are related to the risk of medical complications.

The method and structure described in this paper can provide neuron-computer bidirectional interface materials. The interface material layer includes a sustainable self-powered composite polymer with embedded nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes for integration in a neuron-glia network. The neuron-computer bidirectional interface material can be used as a stimulator for excitable tissues and as an interface for functional prostheses.

According to an embodiment of the invention, an interface structure is provided for sending electrical pulses to and receiving electrical pulses from a biological environment. In some embodiments, the interface structure may include at least one composite material pulse generating layer, which includes a substrate phase of a piezoelectric polymer material, a first dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals and a second dispersed phase of carbon nanotubes Phase, the first and second dispersed phases appear throughout the substrate phase, where the piezoelectric polymer material and piezoelectric nanocrystals convert mechanical motion into electrical pulses and accept electrons to charge the composite material pulse generation layer, and the nanocarbon The tube provides a path for distributing electrical pulses to one surface of the composite material pulse generating layer in contact with the biological environment, and transports free radicals from the biological environment to at least piezoelectric nanocrystals, or includes piezoelectric nanocrystals and piezoelectric polymers Piezo elements.

These and other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments read in conjunction with the drawings.

Detailed embodiments of the claimed structures and materials are disclosed herein; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the claimed structures and methods that can be implemented in various forms. In addition, each example related to various embodiments is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. In addition, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of specific components. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the invention belongs to apply the disclosed methods and structures in various ways.

Reference to "one embodiment" or "embodiment" of the present principles in the specification and other variations means that the specific features, structures, properties, etc. described in connection with the embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present principles. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" and any other variations that appear throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. For the purposes described below, the terms "upper", "above", "overlay", "lower", "below", "under", "right", "left", " "Vertical", "Horizontal", "Top", "Bottom" and their derivatives should be related to the orientation of the disclosed embodiments in the drawings. The term "located" means that a first element, such as a first structure, exists on a second element, such as a second structure, where an intermediary element, such as an interface structure, such as an interface layer, can exist on the first element and Between the second components. The term "direct contact" means a first element, such as a first structure, and a second element, such as a second structure, without any intermediate conductive layer, insulation, or semiconductor layer at the interface between the two elements.

The methods and structures described herein can provide a neuron-computer bidirectional interface material, which can include a self-powered composite polymer with embedded nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes. Neuron-computer bidirectional interface materials can be used as exciters for excitable tissues such as brain tissue, spinal cord tissue, peripheral nerves, bones and myocardium, etc., and can be used as functional prostheses and brain-computer interface devices, including but not limited Biological robots, exoskeletons and implantable devices.

In some embodiments, the interface material provided by the self-powered composite polymer is a flexible and extensible piezoelectric energy harvester capable of collecting tiny biomechanical motions in the human body and converting them into electrical pulses / currents. This technique can be further applied to self-powered sensitive piezoelectric medical devices. More specifically, in some embodiments, in order to provide a self-powered aspect of the composite structure, by converting mechanical motion into electromotive force (EMF), electrical pulses are generated in the composite polymer embedded with nano piezoelectric elements. The EMF will generate a current used by neighboring neurons to promote depolarization of the cell membrane and further propagation of the action potential along the neuron / axon network.

The conversion of mechanical motion into electromotive force (EMF) is generated by the piezoelectric effect of piezoelectric polymer materials and piezoelectric nanocrystals, which provide an interface structure for transmitting and receiving electrical pulses from biological environments And the piezoelectric nanocrystal is a dispersed phase that can be present in the overall matrix material. The piezoelectric effect, or piezoelectricity, is based on the ability of a material, such as crystal, to generate a charge when mechanically loaded with pressure or tension. This is called the direct piezoelectric effect.

A piezoelectric polymer is a piezoelectric material, that is, a material's ability to change its polarization by applying stress and / or strain generated by changing the polarization. Piezoelectric polymer provides a matrix of composite structure. A composite material is a material composed of two or more different phases, such as a substrate phase and a dispersed phase, and has an overall property different from that of any component itself. As used herein, the term "substrate phase" refers to most of the composite phases present in the composite material, and includes the dispersed phase and shares the load with it. In the current situation, the substrate phase may be provided by a polymer.

The term "polymer" can be defined as a material made up of a large number of repeating units interconnected by chemical bonds. A single polymer molecule can contain millions of small molecules or repeating units called monomers. Polymers are very large molecules with high molecular weight. The monomer should have a double bond or at least two functional groups to arrange into a polymer. This double bond or two functional groups help the monomer to connect more than two monomers, and these connected monomers also have functional groups that attract more monomers. A polymer is made by a method and this process is called polymerization. The result of the polymerization is a large molecule or a polymer chain. These polymer chains can be arranged in different ways to become the molecular structure of a polymer. The arrangement may be amorphous or crystalline. The main difference between amorphous and crystalline polymers is their molecular arrangement. Amorphous polymers have no specific arrangement or pattern, while crystalline polymers are well-aligned molecular structures. More details about piezoelectric polymers are provided below.

As mentioned above, piezoelectric power generation, that is, electrical pulses are generated not only by piezoelectric polymers but also by piezoelectric nanocrystals in a dispersed phase of a composite material. Crystalline solids or crystals, such as piezoelectric nanocrystals, have an ordered structure and symmetry. The atoms, molecules or ions in the crystal are arranged in a specific way; therefore they have a long-distance order. There is a regular repeating pattern in crystalline solids; therefore we can identify a repeating unit.

In some embodiments, piezoelectric nanocrystals are provided by ceramic compositions. Ceramics exhibiting piezoelectric properties can be classified as ferroelectric materials. A class of ceramic nanocrystals exhibiting piezoelectric properties includes lead zirconate titanate (PZT); members of this class are composed of mixed crystals of lead zirconate (PbZrO ₃ ) and lead titanate (PbTiO ₃ ). The piezoelectric ceramic component has a polycrystalline structure containing a plurality of crystallites (crystal domains), and each crystallite (crystal domain) is composed of a plurality of basic unit cells. The basic unit cell of these ferroelectric ceramics exhibits a perovskite crystal structure, which can be generally explained by the structural formula A ²⁺ B ⁴⁺ O ₃ ^2- . The piezoelectric nanocrystals may also include niobium (Nb) based crystals.

Similar to piezoelectric polymers, piezoelectric nanocrystals generate charge when mechanically loaded with pressure or tension, which is referred to above as the piezoelectric effect. Piezoelectric nanocrystals are nanoscale. "Nano level" means that the piezoelectric nano crystal has a cross-sectional width of less than 500 nm. In some examples, piezoelectric nanocrystals have a cross-sectional width ranging from 20 nm to 100 nm.

Piezoelectric nanocrystals provide a dispersed phase of the composite material, where the substrate phase of the composite material is provided by the piezoelectric polymer material. As used herein, the term "dispersed phase" means a second phase (or phases) embedded in the matrix phase of the composite material. The dispersed phase may be present in the bulk material that provides the matrix.

The composite material also includes a second dispersed phase of a carbon nanotube. Nanotubes provide a path for distributing electrical pulses to the surface of one of the pulse generation layers of the composite material in contact with the biological environment, and transport free radicals from the biological environment to at least the piezoelectric nanocrystals. As used herein, "nanotube" means a form of nanostructure having an aspect ratio of length to width greater than 10. Unless explicitly specified as different, the term "nanotube" includes single-walled and multi-walled nanotubes. In one embodiment, the carbon nanotube is at least one graphene layer enclosed in a cylinder. In one embodiment, the single-walled carbon nanotube is graphene rolled into a seamless cylinder of nanometer diameter. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes are multiple graphene sheets rolled into a seamless cylinder with a diameter of nanometers.

Composite materials of piezoelectric polymers, piezoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes can provide an interface structure for transmitting and receiving electrical pulses from biological environments. For example, the current generated by the composite material can be used by neighboring neurons to promote depolarization of the cell membrane and further propagation of action potentials along the neuron / axon network. Compared to conventional neural tissue stimulation techniques, the operating power of devices using piezoelectric polymers, composites of piezoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes can be reduced due to improved biocompatibility and the shape of polymer electrodes . Implantable devices built on the proposed technology may be suitable for clinical applications including but not limited to deep brain stimulation of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson's disease); neuromodulation of severe depression; urinary incontinence; Neurotrauma; spontaneous tremor; epilepsy; and combinations thereof. The method and structure of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1-16.

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure 100 with a thin film and a shape factor, wherein the interface structure is a multilayer structure, including a piezoelectric polymer substrate 5 and a piezoelectric nanocrystalline material 10 The first dispersed phase and the second dispersed phase of a carbon nanotube 15 and a composite material layer 20 having at least one biological environment interface layer 25 with a grid geometry.

The composite material layer 20 may be referred to as a composite electrical pulse generating layer, which includes a substrate phase of piezoelectric polymer material 5, a first dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 and a first phase of a carbon nanotube 15 Two dispersed phases, where the first and second dispersed phases are present throughout the substrate phase. As shown in FIG. 1, the first dispersed phase of the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 and the second dispersed phase of the carbon nanotube 15 can be uniformly distributed in the entire matrix of the piezoelectric polymer material 5. The composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 is a flexible and extensible piezoelectric generator that can provide a self-powered energy system for various applications.

The piezoelectric polymer material 5 and the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 convert mechanical motion into electrical pulses and accept electrons to charge the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20. In some embodiments, the first dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanomaterial 10 is added to the substrate phase of piezoelectric polymer material 5 in the form of nanowires or nanocrystals when compared to other piezoelectric nanostructures Provide a piezoelectric composition that can produce high output power with higher efficiency. For example, Pb (Mg _1/3 Nb _2/3 ) O ₃ -PbTiO ₃ (PMN-PT) nanowires are a type of piezoelectric nanocrystals 10 that can be dispersed in the entire matrix of piezoelectric polymer material 5 Composition, the piezoelectric polymer material 5 is β-phase poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE), wherein the piezoelectric coupling coefficient (d33) of the PMN-PT nanowire is about 371pm / V It is more than 13 times higher than BaTiO ₃ nanoparticles and about 90 times higher than NaNbO ₃ nanowires, which are 28 and 4 pm / V, respectively. It should be noted that this example is only illustrative and is not intended to limit the invention. Other components are also applicable to piezoelectric polymer 5 and piezoelectric nanocrystal 10.

For example, the piezoelectric polymer 5 that provides the matrix of the composite material may be poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE), which is a copolymer of PVDF. Poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE) can crystallize directly into β phase from the melt. In some embodiments, the β phase is thermodynamically favorable for the piezoelectric effect. In other examples, the piezoelectric polymer material may have a composition selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyvinylidene fluoride (TrFE) -containing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) copolymer, and tetrafluoro-containing Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) copolymer of ethylene (TFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) copolymer containing tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and trifluoroethylene (TrFE), nylon 11, poly (vinylidene dicyanide) Ethylene vinyl acetate) and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 may be composed of piezoelectric ceramic materials. For example, the piezoelectric ceramic material providing the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 may have a composition selected from the group consisting of lead zirconate (PbZrO ₃ ), lead titanate (PbTiO ₃ ), and combinations thereof.

In one example, the material composition of the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 used in the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 is a single crystal piezoelectric (1-x) PbZn _1/3 Nb _2/3 O ₃ -PbTiO ₃ (PZNT ) (Additional PMN-PT), its piezoelectric coupling coefficient (d33) is as high as 2500pm / V, which is higher than that of conventional piezoelectric ceramics. For example, the piezoelectric coupling coefficient (d33) of the single crystal block PMN-PT is about 30 times higher than that of BaTiO ₃ at about 85.3 pm / V, and is almost 4 times higher than that of the PZT block material.

In another example, the material of the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 is Li-doped (K, Na) NbO ₃ as the crystalline component of the ceramic piezoelectric junction. In another example suitable for long-term biocompatibility, lead-free materials may be preferred. For example, the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 may be Ba (Ce _x Ti _1-x O ₃ ), which is barium cerium titanate (C-BT) and (0.94 (Bi _0.5 Na _0.5 TiO ₃ ) +0.06 (BaTiO ₃ ) ) As a solid solution mixture.

The first dispersed phase of the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 may have a nanowire-type geometry, and in some cases may have a substantially spherical geometry. In the case where the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 has a nanowire-type geometry, the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 has a cross-sectional width ranging from 20 nm to 100 nm, and the length of the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 may be between 100 nm and 500 nm Meter. The dimensions of the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 are provided for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure to this example.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 also includes a second dispersed phase of the nanotube, that is, the carbon nanotube 15. The carbon nanotube 15 provides a path for distributing electrical pulses to a surface of the composite pulse generating layer that contacts the biological environment. The carbon nanotubes 15 further provide for the transport of free radical degradation by-products from the biological environment to both piezoelectric nanocrystals and piezoelectric polymers.

Nano carbon tube (CNT) 15 is a cylindrical structure made of carbon with unique mechanical and electronic properties. Nanotube (CNT) 15 is a rolled sheet of hexagonal carbon atoms arranged to give a tube with a diameter of about a few nanometers and a length typically in the micrometer range. They can be single-walled or multi-walled (SWCNT and MWCNT, respectively), depending on the orientation of the carbon lattice relative to the tube axis (referred to herein as chirality), and can be conductive or semi-conductive. In some embodiments, the carbon nanotube (CNT) 15 is designed to pass through the polymer matrix disorderly, ie the piezoelectric polymer material 5. The function of the Nano Carbon Tube (CNT) 15 is to collect, conduct and accept electrons and non-toxic oxygen free radicals in the intercellular space [О ^3- + С + e = СО ₂ ], including those generated by electrical pulse transmission.

In one embodiment, the carbon nanotube 15 may have a high purity of about 95% to about 99% carbon. In a further embodiment, the carbon nanotube 15 has a high purity of about 99% or higher. In one embodiment, the nano carbon tube 15 may be provided by laser vaporization. In one embodiment, the single-walled carbon nanotube 15 is formed using laser vaporization in combination with a catalyst, such as a metal catalyst. In one embodiment, the catalyst is supported on a substrate, such as a graphite substrate, or the catalyst may be floating metal catalyst particles. In one embodiment, the metal catalyst may be composed of Fe, Ni, Co, Rh, Y or alloys and combinations thereof.

Most of the carbon contained in the nano carbon tube 15 is usually of high purity. In other examples, the carbon nanotubes include a carbon content in the range greater than 50%, wherein purification procedures are utilized to provide carbon nanotubes with high purity, such as carbon greater than 90%. In one embodiment, the carbon nanotubes can be purified by a method including acid treatment and oxidation. In one embodiment, the acid treatment may include treatment and oxidation steps provided by a lean HNO ₃ reflux / air oxidation procedure.

Other methods of forming carbon nanotubes can also be used, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD). In another embodiment, the carbon nanotubes may be multi-walled.

The diameter of the single-walled carbon nanotube 15 may be in the range of about 1 nanometer to about 400 nanometers. In another embodiment, the diameter of the single-walled carbon nanotube 15 may be in the range of about 1.2 nanometers to about 1.6 nanometers. In one embodiment, the nanotube 15 used in accordance with the present invention has an aspect ratio of length to diameter of approximately 200: 1 or greater. For example, the length of the nano carbon tube (CNT) 15 can be as high as 1 mm.

In some embodiments, the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 may include piezoelectric polymer material 5 in an amount of 70 wt.% To 84.9 wt.%; Piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 in an amount of 15 wt.% To 30 wt.%; The amount of the nano carbon tube 15 is 0.1 wt.% To 1 wt.%. In one example, the piezoelectric polymer material 5 is present in the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 in an amount equal to 79.5 wt.%; The piezoelectric crystal 10 is in an amount equal to 20 wt.% And the carbon nanotube 15 is equal to 0.5 The amount of wt.% is present in the composite electric pulse generating layer 20.

In some embodiments, the thickness of the composite pulse generating layer 20 may be in the range of 40 μm to 300 μm. In one example, the thickness of the composite material pulse generating layer 20 is equal to 100 μm.

In one example, the composite material pulse generating layer 20 may have a piezoelectric coefficient d33 of 30-350 pC / N and a polarization of 2500-10000 mC / cm ² .

1, the interface structure 100 may also include at least one biological environment interface layer 25, which is in contact with the surface of the composite material pulse generating layer 20 to provide a multi-layer interface structure, reaching the surface of the composite material pulse electrical pulse generating layer 20 The pulse is transported by the biological environment interface layer to stimulate the cells in the biological environment. The biological environment interface layer 25 may also be referred to as an outer layer.

In some embodiments, at least one biological environment interface layer 25 is used to collect and distribute electrical pulses. In some examples, the at least one biological environment interface layer 25 may include a metal-containing layer, which may be gold (Au). The at least one biological environment interface layer 25 is not limited to gold (Au). For example, in some other embodiments, the at least one biological environment interface layer is provided by a metal composition selected from the group consisting of silver, platinum, iridium, and combinations thereof including gold. In some embodiments, the metal coating used to provide the bio-environmental interface 25 may be by plating, such as electroplating and / or electroless plating), physical vapor deposition (PVD), such as sputtering and / or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology to provide.

In some embodiments, the biological environment interface 25 is in the form of a perforated foil or grid. In the metal layer for the biological environment interface 25, gaps are formed in a predetermined pattern to allow the metal foil or mesh to flex without buckling. When the metal foil is cut and a structure is formed, the metal between the gaps defines a plurality of continuous electrodes on the metal foil. This may allow electrical pulses to be generated and concentrated at certain points in the biological environment interface 25.

The metal layer of the biological environment interface 25 may have a thickness of 8 μm to 12 μm. In one example, the metal layer of the biological environment interface 25 may have a thickness of 10 μm.

In other embodiments, the biological environment interface 25 may be given metal nanoparticles embedded in a polymer, for example, a mixture of piezoelectric polymer and dielectric polymer; Nano metal dots and / or micro metal dots randomly distributed on the surface of the factor.

In some other embodiments, the biological environment interface layer 25 may also be provided by a mixture of piezoelectric polymer material and dielectric polymer material. The piezoelectric polymer material of the biological environment interface layer 25 may be similar in composition to the piezoelectric polymer 5 of the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20. For example, the piezoelectric polymer used for the biological environment interface layer 25 may be poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE). In some embodiments, the piezoelectric polymer material may be mixed with a dielectric polymer, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). For example, the mixture of piezoelectric polymer and dielectric polymer used to provide the biological environment interface layer 25 may include 10 wt.% To 30 wt.% Piezoelectric polymer, and 70 wt.% To 90 wt.% Dielectric polymer. In some cases, the mixture of piezoelectric polymer and dielectric polymer for the bio-interface layer 25 may also include a dispersed phase of nanotubes. In one embodiment, the carbon nanotubes may be present in the piezoelectric polymer and dielectric polymer composition in an amount of 5 wt.% To 20 wt.%.

In some embodiments, the biological environment interface 25 may be omitted from the structure shown in FIG. 1. In some other embodiments, the interface structure 100 depicted in FIG. 1 may include two bio-environment interfaces 25, which will include the first bio-environment interface 25 as depicted in FIG. 1, and opposite the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 A second biological environment interface (not shown) on the side that is different from the first biological environment interface 25.

Still referring to the interface structure 100 depicted in FIG. 1, the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 collects mechanical energy in the form of tiny omnidirectional acceleration and deceleration, and this energy is crystallized, ie, nanocrystal 10, and The piezoelectric effect is converted into electrical pulses. These pulses will be further distributed to the gold surface through the carbon nanotube (CNT) 15 which is the biological environment interface 25. In addition, the present composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 is expected to be sensitive to changes in the depolarization of thin films juxtaposed to neurons. It is expected that the depolarization of the neuron thin film translates into the mechanical stress of this layer. Therefore, this composite material embodies a bidirectional interface with a network of neurons in excitable tissue, such as the brain and / or spinal cord. In some embodiments, the presence of CNT15 allows electrons to reach the surface of the material, allows negative ions and negatively charged free radicals to enter the material through the CNT with a gradient curve, and distributes the electrons within the piezoelectric polymer and piezoelectric crystal . For example, free radical oxygen species such as H ₂ O ₂ , O _3- , etc.) will enter the composite pulse generation layer 20 and be converted into H ₂ O and CO ₂ (or HCO _3- (carbonate buffer)).

It should be noted that the morphology factor, the number of material layer types and the material composition of the material layers provided in FIG. 1 are only an example of the interface structure 100 that can be provided by the present disclosure.

2 depicts another embodiment of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a thin film and a morphological factor, wherein the interface structure 100a includes a composite electrical pulse generating layer 20; a composite electrical pulse amplifying layer 21 and at least one having The multi-layer structure of the bio-environment interface layer 25 in a grid geometry configuration. Some aspects of the interface structure 100a depicted in FIG. 2 are similar to the interface structure 100 depicted in FIG. For example, the description of the composite electrical pulse generation layer 20 and the biological environment interface layer 25 of the interface structure 100 depicted in FIG. 1 may provide at least some examples of the composite material pulse generation layer 20 and the biological environment interface layer 25 depicted in FIG. 2 description.

The composite electric pulse amplification layer 21 exists between the composite material pulse generating layer 20 and the biological environment interface layer 25. The composition of the composite material electric pulse amplifying layer 21 is similar to that of the composite material pulse generating layer 20. For example, similar to the composite pulse generating layer 20, the composite pulse amplifying layer 21 may include a substrate phase of piezoelectric polymer material 5, a first dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystal 10, and a carbon nanotube 15 Of the second dispersed phase, where the first and second dispersed phases are present throughout the substrate phase. However, the concentration of the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 in the composite electric pulse amplifying layer 21 is higher than the concentration of the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 in the composite electric pulse generating layer 10. In one embodiment, the composite pulse amplifying layer 21 may include piezoelectric polymer 5 in an amount of 10 wt.% To 30 wt.%; Piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 may be present in an amount of 70 wt.% To 89.9 wt.% ; And the amount of carbon nanotubes (CNT) is 0.1wt.% To 1.0wt.%. In one example, the composite material pulse amplifying layer 21 may include piezoelectric polymer material 5 in an amount equal to 24.5 wt.%, Nanocrystal 10 in an amount equal to 70 wt.%, And carbon nanotube 15 may have an amount equal to 0.5 wt.%. For comparative purposes, the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 may include piezoelectric polymer material 5 in an amount of 70 wt.% To 84.9 wt.%; Piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 in an amount of 15 wt.% To 30 wt.%; Nanotube 15 in an amount of 0.1 wt.% To 1 wt.%.

In addition, the composite material pulse amplifying layer 21 has a higher piezoelectric coefficient than the composite material pulse generating layer 20. In some embodiments, the piezoelectric coefficient d33 of the composite material pulse amplification layer 21 may be in the range of 50-500 pC / N; and the polarization range of the composite material pulse amplification layer 21 may be 3500-10000 mC / cm ² .

In some embodiments, the composite material pulse amplifying layer 21 is used to receive the electric pulse from the composite material pulse generating layer 20 and increase the magnitude / charge of the electric pulse. The composite material pulse amplifying layer 21 is also used to transmit electrical pulses to the biological environment interface layer 25. Note that the composite material pulse amplification layer 21 also generates electrical pulses.

The thickness of the composite material pulse amplification layer 21 may be in the range of 50 μm to 400 μm. In one example, the thickness of the composite pulse amplification layer 21 is equal to 200 μm.

As described above, the composite material pulse amplifying layer 21 and the composite material pulse generating layer 20 are similar except that the concentration of the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 is different. Therefore, the examples provided above in the description of the piezoelectric polymer material 5 for the composite material pulse generating layer 20, the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10, and the carbon nanotube 15 can be provided in the composite material pulse amplifying layer 21 Examples of piezoelectric polymer materials 5, piezoelectric nanocrystals 10, and carbon nanotubes 15. The components of the composite material pulse generation layer 20 and the composite material pulse amplification layer 21, that is, the piezoelectric polymer material 4, the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10, and the carbon nanotube (CNT)) need not have the same composition.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 acquires mechanical energy in the form of tiny omnidirectional acceleration and deceleration, and converts this energy into electrical pulses through the piezoelectric effect in the crystal and the piezoelectric polymer itself. These pulses will be further received by the composite electrical pulse amplification layer 21, which amplifies these pulses due to the higher piezoelectric coefficient. These amplified pulses will be further distributed back to the gold surface via the carbon nanotube (CNT) 15, that is, the biological environment interface layer 25.

This material is expected to be sensitive to the depolarization changes of juxtaposed neurons. It is expected that the depolarization of the neuron thin film is converted into the mechanical stress of the composite material electric pulse generating layer 20. This mechanical stress of the highly flexible composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 is converted into amplified electrical pulses in the composite electrical pulse amplifying layer 21 (having a higher piezoelectric coefficient). Therefore, the composite material of the interface structure 100a depicted in FIG. 2 represents another embodiment of a bidirectional interface with an excitable tissue (a network of neurons in the brain and / or spinal cord).

In some embodiments, the biological environment interface 25 may be omitted from the structure depicted in FIG. 2. In some other embodiments, the interface structure 100 depicted in FIG. 1 may include two biological environment interfaces 25, which will include a first biological environment interface 25 that is in direct contact with the composite electrical pulse amplification layer 21 as shown in FIG. And, on the opposite side of the interface structure 100a, for example, a second biological environment interface (not shown) on the exposed opposite side of the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20.

FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of the interface structure 100c. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the interface structure 100c includes the composite electrical pulse amplification layer 21 as the core of the interface structure 100c with a thin film / ribbon factor, wherein the composite electrical pulse amplification layer 21 exists in the two-layer composite material Between the electric pulse generating layers 21. The composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 and the composite electrical pulse amplifying layer 21 depicted in FIG. 3 have been described above with reference to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The interface structure 100c depicted in FIG. 3 includes a crystalline saturation layer provided by the composite electrical pulse amplification layer 21, and the composite electrical pulse amplification layer 21 is located between the polymer saturation layers provided by the composite electrical pulse generation layer 20 To provide direct piezoelectric effect cascade amplifier. Cascade amplifiers are produced by changes in stress during polarization, which can be increased due to the high flexibility and durability of the material generated by electrical pulses, which in turn improves the measurable potential difference across the material.

Referring to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, it is desirable that the bottom composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 (as shown in FIG. 3) obtain mechanical energy in the form of tiny omnidirectional acceleration and deceleration to pass this energy through the pressure in the crystallization The electrical effect and the piezoelectric polymer itself are converted into electrical pulses. The pulses are accepted by the centrally located composite electrical pulse amplifying layer 21, which amplifies these pulses due to its higher piezoelectric coefficient compared to the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20. The electrical pulse from the centrally located composite electrical pulse amplification layer 21 can then be applied to the top composite electrical pulse generation layer 20 (as shown in FIG. 3). The reverse / secondary piezoelectric effect is generated after the charge is applied, which is caused by the deformation of the material. This deformation in materials undergoing polarization leads to compressive stress along the lines of the electromagnetic field. This mechanical stress of the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 on top of the highly flexible layer is converted into amplified electrical pulses in the composite electrical pulse amplifying layer 21 (having a higher piezoelectric coefficient). This effect is an example of a piezoelectric cascade amplifier and these amplified pulses will be further distributed back to the biological environment interface 25 (which may be provided by a gold grid) via the carbon nanotube 15.

The piezoelectric composite material of the interface structure 100c depicted in FIG. 3 shows the coupling structure deformation in the amplifier mode, such as shear or bending type structure deformation, in which the shear deformation of the embedded piezoelectric material generates a large bending deformation of the composite structure.

The composite material depicted in FIG. 3 embodies a bidirectional interface with an excitable tissue, which can be adapted to interact with a network of neurons in the brain and / or spinal cord.

In some embodiments, one or both of the biological environment interfaces 25 may be omitted from the structure depicted in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example of an interface structure 100c having a thin film and a band-shaped form factor, wherein the interface structure 100c includes a composite electrical pulse generating layer 20, a composite electrical pulse amplifying layer 21, and a nano-carbon The multilayer composite layer of the piezoelectric composite material layer of the tube 22, a resin layer 23 and a biological environment interface layer 25. The piezoelectric laminate and the resin layer 23 without the carbon nanotube 22 can be proposed as a double layer between the biological environment interface layer 25 and the composite material pulse amplification layer 21, so that the resin layer 23 and the biological environment interface layer 25 The piezoelectric composite material layer in contact with and without the nano carbon tube 22 is in contact with the composite material pulse amplification layer 21.

The composite electric pulse generating layer 20 and the composite electric pulse amplifying layer 21 have been described above with reference to FIGS. 1-3. The piezoelectric composite layer without the carbon nanotube 22 includes a matrix of piezoelectric polymer material 5 and a dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals 10. The piezoelectric polymer material 5 and the piezoelectric nanocrystalline material 10 used in the piezoelectric composite layer without the carbon nanotube 22 are similar to those in the composite electrical pulse generation layer 20 and the composite electrical pulse amplification layer 21 The piezoelectric polymer material 5 and the piezoelectric nanocrystalline material 10 are used.

In one embodiment, the piezoelectric composite layer without the carbon nanotube 22 includes the piezoelectric polymer material 5 in an amount of 10 wt.% To 30 wt.%, And the nanocrystal 10 is 70 wt.% To 90 wt.%. Quantity exists. In one example, the piezoelectric composite layer without the carbon nanotubes 22 includes a piezoelectric polymer material 5 in an amount equal to 20 wt.%, And piezoelectric nanocrystals in an amount equal to 80 wt.%. The thickness of the piezoelectric composite layer without the carbon nanotube 22 may be in the range of 50 μm to 400 μm. In one example, the thickness of the piezoelectric composite layer without the carbon nanotubes 22 may be equal to 200 microns.

In some embodiments, the piezoelectric coefficient d33 of the piezoelectric composite layer without the carbon nanotube 22 may be in the range of 40-500 pC / N; and the piezoelectric composite layer without the carbon nanotube 22 may It has polarization ranging from 3100-10000mC / cm ² .

The piezoelectric composite layer without the carbon nanotubes 22 is used to generate and amplify signals due to the high-voltage electro-crystalline content of the layer. In some embodiments, the piezoelectric composite layer without the carbon nanotubes 22 may function in a manner similar to the composite electrical pulse amplification layer 21, but it is not included in the carbon nanotubes.

The resin layer 23 may be composed of a polymer incorporating cation exchange resin particles based on micron-sized sulfostyrene-crosslinked divinylbenzene, such as sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK). composition. The thickness of the resin layer 23 may be in the range of 50 μm to 200 μm. In some examples, the resin layer 23 may provide potassium-sodium (K-Na) ion exchange. The resin layer 23 is an ion exchange material.

It is worth noting that the double layer of the piezoelectric composite material layer and the resin layer 23 without the carbon nanotubes 22 is not limited to only being incorporated into the interface structure as depicted in FIG. 4. For example, another embodiment of the interface structure depicted in FIG. 5 has a film / tape form factor and a multilayer stack including a first bio-environment interface layer 25 (at the bottom of the stack) and a first resin Layer 23, a first piezoelectric composite layer without carbon nanotubes 22, a first composite electrical pulse amplification layer 21, a composite electrical pulse generation layer 20, a second composite electrical pulse amplification layer 21 , A second piezoelectric composite layer without carbon nanotubes 22, a second resin layer 23 and a second biological environment interface layer 25. Each of these layers has been described above for structures with similar reference numbers. In addition, one or both of the first and second biological environment interface layers 25 may be omitted from the structure depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5.

6 depicts a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a thin film and a morphology factor, wherein the interface structure is a multilayer structure, including a piezoelectric polymer substrate 5 and a piezoelectric nanocrystalline material 10 first A dispersed phase, a composite layer of a second dispersed phase of a carbon nanotube 15, a dielectric polymer layer 30, and at least one biological environment interface layer 25 having a grid geometry. The dielectric polymer layer used in the interface structure 100e shown in FIG. 6 may be composed of a biocompatible material with high dielectric properties.

The dielectric polymer layer 30 may provide an isolation surface for the interface structure 100e shown in FIG. The dielectric polymer layer 30 may be composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The PDMS experimental formula is (C ₂ H ₆ OSi) _n , and its fragment formula is CH ₃ [Si (CH ₃ ) 2O] _n Si (CH ₃ ) ₃ , where n is the number of monomer repeating structures. Depending on the size of the monomer chain, non-crosslinked PDMS may be almost liquid (low n) or semi-solid (high n). Siloxane bonds form a flexible polymer chain with a high level of viscoelasticity.

It should be noted that PDMS is only an example of a dielectric polymer layer 30 that can be used in an interface structure 100e of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure. For example, other dielectric polymer compositions may be provided by other inorganic-organic polymers of the siloxane group (structures containing carbon and silicon). The dielectric polymer layer 30 may have a thickness of 40 μm to 300 μm. In one example, the dielectric polymer layer 30 has a thickness of 100 μm.

At least one biological environment interface layer 25 of the interface structure 100e shown in FIG. 6 may be omitted.

FIG. 7 depicts another embodiment of the interface structure 100f including the dielectric polymer layer 30 described above with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a thin film and one of the morphological factors, wherein the interface structure 100f is a multi-layer structure including a dielectric between two composite electrical pulse generating layers 20 Polymer layer 30; and at least one biological environment interface layer 25 with a grid geometry. More specifically, the interface structure 100f shown in FIG. 7 includes two biological environment interface layers 25 on opposite sides of the interface structure 100f. In some embodiments, one or both of the biological environment interfaces 25 may be omitted from the structure shown in FIG. 3.

In some embodiments, the aforementioned dielectric polymer composition, that is, the dielectric composition for the dielectric polymer layer 30, may provide a matrix of a composite material including piezoelectric nanocrystals 10 and carbon nanotubes 15 . The piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 and the carbon nanotube 15 have been described above. The composite material layer has a matrix of a dielectric polymer layer and a piezoelectric material, that is, a dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes, the material layer can be said to have piezoelectric nanocrystals 10 and carbon nanotubes 15 of the dielectric matrix composite of the dispersed phase. In one example, the dielectric matrix composite material having a dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals 10 and carbon nanotubes 15 includes a dielectric polymer in an amount of 70 wt.% To 84.9 wt.%, Such as polydimethylsilicone Oxyalkylene (PDMS), piezoelectric nanocrystals 10 in an amount of 15wt.% To 30wt.% And nanotubes of 0.1wt.% To 1.0wt.%. In one example, a dielectric matrix composite material having a dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals 10 and carbon nanotubes 15 includes a dielectric polymer present in an amount equal to 79.5 wt.%, Such as polydimethylsiloxane Alkanes (PDMS), piezoelectric nanocrystals 10 and 0.5 wt.% Of carbon nanotubes present in an amount equal to 20 wt.%.

In one embodiment, the piezoelectric matrix d33 of the dielectric matrix composite with the dispersed phases of piezoelectric nanocrystals 10 and carbon nanotubes 15 may be in the range of 0.5-2pC / N; and does not contain nanocarbon The piezoelectric composite material layer of the tube 22 may have a polarization range of 2500-3000 mC / cm ² .

In one example, a dielectric matrix composite with a dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes can be incorporated into an interface structure with a thin film / band morphology factor. For example, a dielectric matrix composite material with a dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes can be incorporated into an interface structure, as shown in FIG. 6, in which piezoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes The dielectric matrix composite material of the dispersed phase replaces the dielectric polymer layer 30. In one embodiment, a composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 exists on top of the dielectric matrix composite material with piezoelectric nanocrystals and nanocarbon dispersed phase, and a biological environment interface layer 25 exists on the composite material On top of the pulse generating layer 20. In this example, the dielectric matrix composite material having a dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes may have a thickness of 40 μm to 300 μm. In one example, the dielectric matrix composite material having a dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes has a thickness of 100 μm.

In another example, a dielectric matrix composite material with a dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes can be incorporated into the interface structure, as shown in FIG. 7, which has piezoelectric nanocrystals and nanocarbon The dielectric matrix composite material of the dispersed phase of the tube replaces the dielectric polymer layer 30 existing between the two composite material electrical pulse generating layers 20.

Figures 1-7 only show some examples of interface structures with film / tape form factors. In other examples, an interface structure is provided that includes the piezoelectric composite layer free of nanotubes, and at least one double layer provided by a mixture of piezoelectric polymer material and dielectric polymer material.

The double-layered carbon nanotube-free piezoelectric composite material layer is similar to the layer identified by reference numeral 22 in FIGS. 4 and 5.

For the layer provided by the mixture of one of the piezoelectric polymer material and the dielectric polymer material, the piezoelectric polymer material may be similar in composition to the piezoelectric polymer 5 of the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20. For example, the piezoelectric polymer used for the biological environment interface layer 25 may be poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE). In some embodiments, the piezoelectric polymer material may be mixed with a dielectric polymer, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). For example, a layer provided by a mixture of piezoelectric polymer and dielectric polymer may include 70 wt.% To 90 wt.% Piezoelectric polymer, and 10 wt.% To 30 wt.% Dielectric polymer. The layer provided by the mixture of piezoelectric polymer materials can be characterized by a piezoelectric coefficient d33 in the range of 10-100 pC / N; and a polarization range of 1500-5000 mC / cm ² .

A two-layer interface structure including a piezoelectric composite layer without carbon nanotubes and a layer provided by a mixture of piezoelectric polymer materials and dielectric polymer materials may further include at least one biological interface layer (also known as Outer layer), which is also composed of a polymer material including a dispersed phase of a carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotubes can be present in an amount of 5 wt.% To 20 wt.%.

In yet another example, the interface structure may include a stack of one layer provided by a mixture of piezoelectric polymer material and dielectric polymer material, which is located between two piezoelectric composite material layers free of carbon nanotubes.

The layer of piezoelectric composite material without carbon nanotubes is similar to the layer identified by reference numeral 22 in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The layer provided by the mixture of the piezoelectric polymer material and the dielectric material layer has been described above in the double layer of the piezoelectric composite material layer without the carbon nanotube and the mixture layer of the piezoelectric polymer material and the dielectric material The document provides an example of the composition of the mixture layer of the piezoelectric polymer material and the dielectric material between two piezoelectric composite layers without carbon nanotubes. In another embodiment, the mixture layer of piezoelectric polymer material and dielectric material includes 10 wt.% To 30 wt.% Piezoelectric polymer, and 70 wt.% To 90 wt.% Dielectric polymer. The layer characteristic provided by this mixture can be a piezoelectric coefficient d33 in the range of 0.5-2 pC / N.

The interfacial structure comprising a stack of one layer provided by a mixture of piezoelectric polymer material and dielectric polymer material and a dielectric polymer material between two piezoelectric composite material layers without carbon nanotubes further It may include at least one biological interface layer (also referred to as an outer layer), which is also composed of a polymer material including a dispersed phase of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes may be present in an amount of 5 wt.% To 20 wt.%.

It should be noted that the film and belt morphology factors in one embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7 are essentially 2D geometric configurations and can be manipulated to provide an unordered belt as shown in FIG. 8 Geometric configuration. In another embodiment, the film and tape morphology factors shown in Figures 1-7 can be used to provide a Mobius strip geometry, as shown in Figure 9. In yet another embodiment, the film and tape morphology factors shown in FIGS. 1-7 can be used to provide a coiled geometric configuration, that is, one of the rolled up mats shown in FIG.

The morphological factors depicted in FIGS. 1-10 may have microscale external dimensions, with the largest dimension, for example, the length of the morphological factor may be in the range of 100-200 microns.

In another embodiment, an ultra-flexible elastic composite generator is provided by using Ecoflex silicone rubber-based piezoelectric composite materials and long silver nanowire-based extensible electrodes.

It should be noted that the interface structure provided herein is not limited to the two-dimensional thin film and strip shape factors described with reference to FIGS. 1-7. In some embodiments, the morphological factors of the interface materials 100g, 100h, 100i, 100k may be three-dimensional (3D) geometric configurations, such as spheres with pillars / nails extending from the surface of the sphere, spheres without pillars / nails, sponges The shape, dendritic structure or line geometry is shown in Figure 11-16. The three-dimensional morphological factors depicted in FIGS. 11-16 may have microscale external dimensions, for example, having a size range from 100 μm to 200 μm. In addition, some of the following morphological factors described with reference to FIGS. 11-16 can be introduced into living tissue in the form of injectable suspensions of this structure.

FIG. 11 is a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a three-dimensional form factor, which has the shape of a plurality of pins / pillars extending from the outer surface of the ball. The interface structure 100g depicted in FIG. 11 includes a core 35 of a composite electrical pulse generating material including a first dispersed phase having a piezoelectric nanocrystal and a second dispersion of a carbon nanotube Phase piezoelectric polymer matrix. The material for providing the core 35 is similar to the composite electrical pulse generating material 20 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-7 and the composite electrical pulse amplification material 21 described above with reference to FIGS. 2-5. Therefore, the description of the composition of the piezoelectric polymer matrix 5 for the composite electrical pulse generating material 20, the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10, and the carbon nanotube 15 is suitable for describing the multiple nails as depicted in FIG. 11 The piezoelectric polymer matrix at the core of the column sphere and the dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes.

In some embodiments, the piezoelectric polymer matrix is present in the core 35 in an amount of 10 wt.% To 30 wt.%, And the piezoelectric nanocrystals are present in the core 35 in an amount of 70 wt.% To 95 wt.%, And the nano Rice carbon tubes are present in the core 35 in an amount of 5 wt.% To 30 wt.%. In one example, the core 35 includes a piezoelectric polymer matrix in an amount equal to 20 wt.%, Piezoelectric nanocrystals in an amount equal to 70 wt.%, And carbon nanotubes in an amount equal to 10 wt.%. The core 35 may have a diameter ranging from 100 μm to 1000 μm. In one example, the diameter of the core 35 is equal to 500 μm.

The outer sphere 40 of the spherical structure depicted in FIG. 11 may be composed of a composite material of piezoelectric polymer material and piezoelectric nanocrystal. The outer sphere 40 is composed of a material similar to the piezoelectric composite layer without the carbon nanotube 22 described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Therefore, the description of the composition for the piezoelectric polymer matrix 5 and the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 for the piezoelectric composite material layer without the carbon nanotubes 22 is suitable for describing as shown in FIG. The disperse phase of the piezoelectric polymer matrix and the piezoelectric nanocrystals of the outer sphere 40 of the sphere of each nail / pillar.

In some embodiments, the piezoelectric polymer matrix is present in the outer surface 40 in an amount of 70 wt.% To 90 wt.%, And the piezoelectric nanocrystal is present in the outer surface 40 in an amount of 10 wt.% To 30 wt.%. . In one example, the outer sphere 40 includes a piezoelectric polymer matrix in an amount equal to 80 wt.%, And piezoelectric nanocrystals are present in an amount equal to 20 wt.%. The thickness of the outer sphere 40 (from the surface amount of the core 35 to the outer surface of the outer sphere 40) may range from 500 μm to 5000 μm. In one example, the outer sphere 40 has a thickness equal to 2000 μm.

Still referring to FIG. 11, the plurality of nails / pillars 45 extending from the outer surface of the sphere 40 may be composed of most of the nano carbon tubes and piezoelectric polymer materials. The carbon nanotubes and piezoelectric polymer materials used in the nail / pillar 45 have been described above with reference to FIGS. 1-7. In one embodiment, the carbon nanotube may be present in the stud 45 in an amount of 70 wt.% To 95 wt.%, And the piezoelectric polymer material may be present in an amount of 5 wt.% To 30 wt.%.

The nail / pillar 45 has an actual size of approximately 2 μm in diameter; a total length of approximately 2000 μm (measured from the surface of the core 35 to the tip of the nail / pillar 45 extending from the outer sphere 40), and a protrusion distance equal to 1 μm (from the outside Measure the surface of the sphere 40).

Still referring to FIG. 11, the outer surface of the sphere with multiple pins / pillars may have a conductive layer present thereon, which may provide a biological environment interface layer. It should be noted that any composition of the bio-environment interface layer 25 described above can provide such a layer as shown in FIG. 11. For example, the outer surface of the sphere may include a layer of gold with a thickness of 8 microns to 12 microns, and in one example is equal to 10 microns.

FIG. 12 depicts another embodiment of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure having a three-dimensional morphology factor in the shape of a sphere with a core 36 present in the outer sphere 41. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the core 36 and the outer sphere 41 are each composed of a piezoelectric polymer matrix, a first dispersion phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals and a second dispersion of a carbon nanotube (CNT) Phase composite material. The core 36 may be composed of a composite material composition similar to the composite electric pulse amplification layer 21 described above with reference to FIGS. 2-5. In some embodiments, the piezoelectric polymer matrix is present in the core 36 in an amount of 10 wt.% To 30 wt.%, And the piezoelectric nanocrystals are present in the core 36 in an amount of 70 wt.% To 95 wt.%, And the nano Rice carbon tubes are present in the core 36 in an amount of 5 wt.% To 20 wt.%. In one example, the core 36 includes a piezoelectric polymer matrix in an amount equal to 20 wt.%, A piezoelectric nanocrystal in an amount equal to 70 wt.%, And a carbon nanotube in an amount equal to 10 wt.%. The diameter of the core 36 may be in the range of 100 μm to 1000 μm. In one example, the core 36 has a diameter equal to 500 μm.

The outer sphere 41 of the spherical structure depicted in FIG. 12 may be composed of a composite material of a piezoelectric polymer material, piezoelectric nanocrystals, and carbon nanotubes. The outer sphere 41 is composed of a material similar to the composite electric pulse generating layer 20 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-7. In some embodiments, the piezoelectric polymer matrix is present in the outer sphere 41 in an amount of 70 wt.% To 95 wt.%, And the piezoelectric nanocrystals are present in the outer sphere 41 in an amount of 15 wt.% To 30 wt.%. And the carbon nanotubes are present in an amount of 5wt.% To 20wt.%. In one example, the outer sphere 41 includes a piezoelectric polymer matrix% in an amount equal to 70 wt.%, Piezoelectric nanocrystals are present in an amount equal to 20 wt.%, And carbon nanotubes are present in an amount equal to 10 wt.%. The outer sphere 41 may have a thickness ranging from 500 μm to 5000 μm (measured from the surface of the core 35 to the outer surface of the outer sphere 41). In one example, the outer sphere 41 has a thickness equal to 2000 μm.

Still referring to FIG. 12, the outer surface of the sphere may have a conductive layer present thereon, which may provide a biological environment interface layer. It should be noted that any composition described above for the biological environment interface layer 25 may be provided as the layer of the structure shown in FIG. 12. For example, the outer surface of the sphere may include a layer of gold having a thickness of 8 microns to 12 microns, and in one example a thickness equal to 10 microns.

FIG. 13 depicts a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a three-dimensional morphology factor (identified as interface structure 100i) in the shape of a spongy body. Figure 14 depicts a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure that represents a three-dimensional form factor (labeled as interface structure 100g) that represents three-dimensional ink dots. In some cases, the three-dimensional dot interface structure 100g may be referred to as a dendritic geometric configuration. The dendritic geometry can be created by applying an injectable "electrode" in the form of a suspension polymerized in situ in the neuron-colloid mesh structure. In this example, nanoparticles of piezoelectric material will be suspended in a liquid biocompatible polymer composition, which rapidly polymerizes in the target area in a "dendritic-like" distribution. This "distributed dendritic" electrode will provide a functional two-way interface tightly with the cell membrane. Currently available metal dot electrodes lack these functions.

In one embodiment, the material providing the sponge-like body and the three-dimensional dot interface structure 100i, 100g may be a composite material of a piezoelectric material and a carbon nanotube. In one example, a composite material provided with a sponge-like body and a three-dimensional dot interface structure 100i, 100g may include a piezoelectric polymer material in an amount of 70wt.% To 95wt.%, And an amount of 15wt.% To 30wt. Piezoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes present in an amount of 0.1 to 1 wt.%. The composite materials used in the interface structures 100i, 100g are similar to the composite electrical pulse generating layer 20 and the composite electrical pulse amplifying layer 21. Therefore, the description of the composition used in the piezoelectric polymer matrix 5, the piezoelectric nanocrystal 10 and the carbon nanotube 15 used in the composite electric pulse generating layer 20 and the composite electric pulse amplifying layer 21 is suitable for application These materials of the interface structures 100i, 100j depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14 provide at least one example. For example, the piezoelectric polymer material 5 may be poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE).

In another embodiment, the composition of the piezoelectric polymer material used for the interface structures 100i, 100j shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 such as poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE) can be Select polymer material substitutions for enhanced biocompatibility, such as polyanhydride-poly [bis (p-carboxyphenoxy) propane-sebacic acid] copolymer (PCPP-SA). In some embodiments, the sponge-like body and the three-dimensional dot interface structure 100i, 100g may be a porous structure with a pore size ranging from 5 μm to 20 μm.

A three-dimensional ink dot interface structure 100g having a dendritic geometry can be injected into a tissue and formed therein by a liquid polymer having suspended piezoelectric nanocrystals. Once injected into the tissue (approximately 3-5 cubic millimeters), the material rapidly polymerizes, so the suspended nanocrystals are embedded in a (semi-) rigid polymer matrix. The embedded nanogenerator will be located next to the membrane of the brain's excitable elements (ie neurons (cell bodies, axons and dendrites) and glial cells). We expect these excitable cells to magnify and transmit impulses based on their physiological projections.

15 and 16 depict some embodiments of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a three-dimensional form factor that has a linear geometric configuration. The linear geometry may include an inner core 50 and an outer layer 55, each composed of a composite material including an piezoelectric polymer material, piezoelectric nanocrystals, and carbon nanotubes. The inner core 50 may have a higher concentration of piezoelectric nanocrystals than the outer layer 55. For example, the inner core 50 may be composed of 70 wt.% To 95 wt.% Piezoelectric nanocrystals and the outer layer 55 may be composed of 15 wt.% To 30 wt.% Piezoelectric nanocrystals. The inner core 50 may also be composed of 10 wt.% To 30 wt.% Piezoelectric polymer material, and 5 wt.% To 20 wt.% Carbon nanotubes. The outer layer 55 may also be composed of 70 wt.% To 95 wt.% Piezoelectric polymer material, and 5 wt.% To 20 wt.% Nanotube. The inner core 50 may have a radius ranging from 10 μm to 80 μm, and the outer layer 55 may have a thickness ranging from 4 μm to 30 μm. The outer surface of the wire may include a dielectric polymer layer. The dielectric polymer may be polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). FIG. 16 depicts a plurality of lines each having a multilayer structure composed as described with reference to FIG. 15.

In another embodiment, the neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure may be provided by a paste geometry that can apply the material to the void through the nonlinear path. The paste can be applied as a three-layer paste including an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and an outer layer. The inner layer may be referred to as a core paste material and may include a composite material of piezoelectric polymer material, piezoelectric nanocrystals, and carbon nanotubes. In one example, the piezoelectric polymer may be present in the core layer in an amount of 10 wt.% To 30 wt.%, The piezoelectric nanocrystals may be present in the core layer from 70 wt.% To 89.9 wt.%, And the carbon nanotubes may The amount of 0.1 wt.% To 1 wt.% Is present. In one example, the piezoelectric polymer may be present in the middle layer in an amount of 70 wt.% To 84.9 wt.%, The piezoelectric nanocrystals may be present in the core layer in an amount of 15 wt.% To 30 wt.%, And the nano The carbon tube may be present in an amount of 5wt.% To 20wt.%. The piezoelectric polymer material of the paste is similar to the piezoelectric polymer material 5 described above with reference to FIG. 1. Similarly, the piezoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes of the paste are similar to the piezoelectric nanocrystals 10 and carbon nanotubes 15 described above with reference to FIG. 1.

The outer layer of the paste may include a mixture of a dielectric polymer and a piezoelectric polymer. For example, the piezoelectric polymer used for the outer layer may be poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE). In some embodiments, the dielectric polymer used for the outer layer may be polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). In some embodiments, the mixture of dielectric polymer and piezoelectric polymer may include piezoelectric polymer in an amount ranging from 20 wt.% To 60 wt.%, And dielectric polymerization in an amount of 70 wt.% To 90 wt.% Thing. In some embodiments, the mixture of dielectric polymer and piezoelectric polymer may include metal nanoparticles in an amount of 30 wt.% To 60 wt.%. The metal nanoparticles may be composed of any metal, such as, for example, gold (Au), platinum (Pt), iridium (Ir), or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the mixture of the dielectric polymer and the piezoelectric polymer may include carbon nanotubes in an amount of 5 wt.% To 20 wt.%. In yet another embodiment, the outer layer may include multiple pores to provide a porous structure. The piezoelectric polymer material is similar to the piezoelectric polymer material 5 described above with reference to FIG. 1.

In some embodiments, at least some elements of some interface structures described with reference to FIGS. 1-16 may be manufactured using pixelated and doped targets, 3D printing, digital projection printing, lamination, hot pressing techniques, and combinations thereof . Piezoelectric polymer materials that provide many of the above polymer matrices can be manufactured from the slurry by spin-molding method; spray pyrolysis; directional polymerization; molecular layer epitaxy (MLE) method, self-assembled solid mixture, and combinations thereof.

The structures depicted in Figures 1-16 are piezoelectric material structures, each of which has a size from nanometers to micrometers, due to the displacement of the piezoelectric material relative to the polymer matrix and / or the bending of the piezoelectric crystal Instead, electrical pulses are generated during any movement. Electric pulses are generated by the movement of the polymer-piezoelectric element system. All nano to micro electrodes work in parallel, so the power generated is accumulated by each electrode.

When implanted in a biological system, electric charges are generated during movement: walking, physical activity, head nodding, etc. The interface structure described herein can provide neuronal stimulation at lower energies than currently available. This lower output "power" is expected to be sufficient to promote cell physiological functions in excitable cells (such as neurons). For example, the density of the piezoelectric material in the polymer may be about 10 ^{2 to} 10 ⁴ piezoelectric elements per 1 mm ^{2 of the} polymer matrix. In other examples, it is expected that the composite material described with reference to FIGS. 1-16 will produce a converted output voltage and current signal of approximately ~ 10 V and 1.3 μA when the size is 250 × 200 × 3 mm, respectively, showing no degradation under repeated bending cycles Stability and durability.

In some embodiments, the proposed technique is as shown in the interface structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f, 100g, 100h, 100i, 100j, 100k, 100l shown in FIGS. 1-16. Descriptors work in a pseudo-continuous state, where electrical pulses are generated whenever the position of the piezoelectric structure (or part of it) changes in space. This is different from the pulse operation mode of current nerve stimulation technology and devices.

In some of the above embodiments, in order to amplify charge generation (if necessary), a thin (nano-level) crystal layer with piezoelectric properties is placed on the outer surface of the polymer device. The nanoporous thin layer of piezoelectric polymer will be placed as the inner layer of the 2D structure (or in the center of the 3D structure). The polymer layer contains carbon nanotubes to promote the exchange of small molecules (water and ions) between the piezoelectric composite and a neuron, as well as the extracellular space. An increase in the concentration of CNTs in the polymer mixture leads to an increase in electrical conductivity, thereby counteracting the piezoelectric properties. In some embodiments, the nanoporous thin layer of the piezoelectric polymer of the carbon nanotubes can be deposited as an inner layer for adsorption to promote ion exchange with the piezoelectric composite and to remove free radicals (eg O ₃ ^- from the extracellular environment).

In some embodiments, a nanopolymer matrix, for example, a composite material that provides a three-dimensional ink dot identified as the interface structure 100i in FIG. 13 and an interface structure 100g in FIG. 14 may have nanopores The material layer provides ion exchange between the piezoelectric material and the extracellular chamber. This property will facilitate the removal of O ₃ ^- ions and other aggressive oxygen-derived free radicals from near the electrode and from the extracellular chamber.

This nano-porous layer of neutral polymer or carbon nanotubes can be deposited as an outer layer for adsorption to promote ion exchange with piezoelectric composites and remove free radicals (eg O ₃₎ from the extracellular chamber ^- ). This layer is composed of nanoporous graphene rich in Fe / Co-N active sites.

Figure 1-16 depicts the interface structure 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f, 100g, 100h, 100i, 100j, 100k, 100l can provide biocompatible sustainable self-powered bidirectional neurons-silica Interface technology, which can be integrated in the neuron-glia network.

The proposed interface structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f, 100g, 100h, 100i, 100j, 100k, 100l are crystallized in nano via mechanical effect through piezoelectric effect Electric pulses are generated. The application of these charges is intense-electrical stimulation of any excitable tissue (such as neurons), deep brain stimulation of Parkinson's disease.

The proposed structure is a bidirectional functional neuron-silica interface, in which the surface charge generated by the above-mentioned piezoelectric effect manipulation device can provide a connection with a natural neuron or a network of neurons. At the same time, the bidirectional functional neuron-silica interface can "read" changes in the surface of natural neurons. The potential applications of this technology are extensive, for example, all types and types of neuro-prostheses and brain-computer interfaces along with machine learning, feedback, etc.

The neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure, that is, the interface structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f, 100g, 100h, 100i, 100j, 100k, 100l, which can be used for brain-computer interface and Local electrical stimulation. In some embodiments, the neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure generates electricity locally, without wires, and without external batteries. In addition, the neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure is biocompatible, that is, not only a neutral material but also a composite material. Due to its natural surface properties, it will be accepted by neurons as a familiar environment. It will be able to generate electrical pulses inside it and accumulate charge on its surface. These charges will be the same as the "natural" charges on the surface of a natural neuron.

In some embodiments, due to biocompatibility, it is expected that the interface structure described herein will have a much lower operating voltage than conventional devices. For example, the interface structure may be "round"-low voltage, which is equivalent to better biocompatibility, which in turn makes the tissue more sensitive to lower voltages. In some embodiments, in order to make biocompatibility better, we have a "feature" that accepts free radicals (H ₂ O ₂ and other substances) and degrades them into H ₂ O and HCO _3- (or CO ₂ ) And electronics (which will be used to recharge the piezoelectric element). This antioxidant effect also enhances biocompatibility.

In the case of neurodegenerative diseases, in which neurons gradually die and the network of neurons is destroyed, the interface structure provided herein can provide a matrix that looks like neurons and feels like neurons to the surviving neurons. Similarly, in cases where the neural network is destroyed by other mechanisms such as trauma, inflammation / de-sheathing, or deformity. Surviving neurons will respond to our artificial neurons in the form of "affinity and acceptance", and the charge generated by the piezoelectric effect in the "artificial neurons" will be picked up by the living neurons and promote / enhance their function . This will help restore the network of neurons damaged by disease or trauma.

In one example, the neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure described above will be able to remove free radicals (oxygen species, such as O ₃ -ions) from the extracellular chamber, thereby reducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, including cell membranes and marrow Phospholipid.

The interface structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f, 100g, 100h, 100i, 100j, 100k, 100l depicted in Figure 1-16 produce a between the electrode and the neuron (or neuron network) interface. This interface will be bidirectional. Manipulating the electric charge generated by artificial neurons provides a connection with natural neurons or a network of neurons. At the same time, the interface structure can read changes in the surface of natural neurons.

The interface structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f, 100g, 100h, 100i, 100j, 100k, 100l depicted in Figure 1-16 can be autonomous (no wires connected to the computer) or wired to Computer device. Autonomous devices can: (i) collect mechanical energy; (ii) convert into electrical pulses; (iii) locally transmit pulses to the neuron network. The activity of the autonomous device can be adjusted via an external magnetic field. This mechanism is related to "polarization". The interface structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f, 100g, 100h, 100i, 100j, 100k, 100l devices depicted in FIGS. 1-16 may also be involuntary devices. Non-autonomous devices can be adjusted via wires like any other wired device. For non-autonomous devices, the interface structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f, 100g, 100h, 100i, 100j, 100k, 100l depicted in FIGS. 1-16 can be used as leads / electrodes.

In some embodiments, the interface structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f, 100g, 100h, 100i, 100j, 100k, and 100l depicted in FIGS. 1-16 function as a low voltage sensor: The signal from the neuron is "sensed" by the outer layer, transmitted to a deeper layer, and amplified in the layer with high concentration of crystals, and transmitted to the computing device via wires, such as machine learning, prosthesis, robot, etc.

The interface structure is designed as a low-voltage biocompatible surface in which the charge / pulse is adjusted to the range naturally generated by the neuron (action potential range).

In some embodiments, in-situ electrical stimulation provided by the interface structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f, 100g, 100h, 100i, 100j, 100k, 100l depicted in FIGS. 1-16 not only Can enhance the function of the neuron network, and can promote neuronal nerve regeneration and dendrite density increase. Overall benefits may include increased density of buds and dendrites through the shaft, neurogenic stimulation / promotion and the formation of a new neural network to promote and maintain the existing neural network.

In some embodiments, the nanostructures included in the interface structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f, 100g, 100h, 100i, 100j, 100k, 100l depicted in FIGS. 1-16 The pulses can be modified and / or amplified with a constant (static) and / or variable strong magnetic field to provide external control of the device.

For example, piezoelectric composite polymer crystalline materials are ferromagnetic. To compensate for possible polarization in high-energy magnetic fields (eg, MRI machines) and to make our materials magnetically neutral, spintronics technology (spin transport electronics) can be used. Spintronics technology consists of two ferromagnetic layers separated by a carbon nanotube dielectric layer. In one option, option 1, before the composite material is assembled, the ferromagnetic layer will undergo polarization without any external magnetic field. In a constant (static) or variable magnetic field, only a small portion of the spins will be synchronized, so the direction of the generated pulse is generally random.

In the second option, the ferromagnetic layer can be polarized in the same magnetic field. In the composite material of this option, the pulse generated will be amplified to be further exposed to an external magnetic field. The direction of the generated piezoelectric pulse can be manipulated by adjusting the external magnetic field. The direction of the pulse can be synchronized, allowing diode-like effects. This technique provides the required number of pulses in the desired direction in an optimizable mode.

In the third option, before assembling into a composite material, the ferromagnetic layer undergoes polarization separately in the magnetic field in the opposite direction; and therefore assembling a dielectric layer between them will compensate for the external magnetic field. Giant magnetoresistance (GMR) is then applied to the structure. This option specifies that the composite material is magnetically neutral in an external high-energy magnetic field (such as an MRI machine). The generated piezoelectric pulses are randomly distributed without an external magnetic field. An external constant (static) magnetic field will lock the pulse. The variable magnetic field will therefore spin synchronously, but the direction of the pulse will remain random. Two variants of GMR that can be used with the composite structure described above with reference to FIGS. 1-16 include: (1) current parallel plane (CIP), where current flows parallel to the layer, and (2) current vertical plane (CPP ), Where the current flows in a direction perpendicular to the layer. Options 2 and 3 in the spintronics technology described above can provide a composite material that can also be regarded as a sensitive magnetic field sensor.

Although the invention has been described above in general, examples are provided below to further illustrate the invention and demonstrate some of the advantages resulting from it. The invention is not intended to be limited to the specific examples disclosed. Examples

Four exemplary compositions were formed for testing. Composite material 1 is a 20% piezoelectric crystal (Pb (Mg _1/3 Nb _2/3 ) O ₃ -PbTiO ₃ (PMN-PT)); 79% piezoelectric polymer PVDF-TrFE and 1% nanometer A piezoelectric composite material composed of carbon tubes (CNT). Composite material 2 is a piezoelectric composite material including 70% piezoelectric crystal (Pb (Mg _1/3 Nb _2/3 ) O ₃ -PbTiO ₃ (PMN-PT)); 29% piezoelectric polymer PVDF-TrFE and 1% CNT piezoelectric composite material. The composite material 3 is a three-layer structure including a core layer having the composition of the composite material 2 and an outer layer having the composition of the composite material 1. The composite body 4 is a three-layer structure including a core layer composed of the composite material 1 and an outer layer composed of the composite material 2. For Composite 4, the core layer was sprayed with 0.5ml of dimethylformamide to improve the adhesion between the layers.

All composite materials are polarized under the following conditions: temperature: 50 ° C, voltage: 4000-10000V, time: 3-10 minutes.

The piezoelectric charge coefficients of composite materials 1, 2 and 3 are measured; and the piezoelectric voltage coefficients of composite materials 1 and 2 are measured. The piezoelectric charge coefficient d33 of the composite material 1 is equal to 30 pC / N; and the piezoelectric charge coefficient d33 of the composite material 2 is equal to 31 pC / N; and the piezoelectric charge coefficient d33 of the composite material 3 is 30 pC / N. The piezoelectric voltage coefficient g33 of the composite material 1 is equal to 14.3 mV * m / N; and the piezoelectric voltage coefficient g33 of the composite material 2 is equal to 16.5 mV * m / N.

In addition, composite multilayer materials show increased piezoelectric coefficients. For example, compared to ~ 320pC / N in composite material 3, the piezoelectric charge coefficient d33 in composite material 1 increases from the measurement ~ 280pC / N. Compared with ~ 17 mV * m / N in the composite material 3, the piezoelectric voltage coefficient g33 in the composite material 1 is increased by the measurement ~ 14 mV * m / N.

Compared with the multilayer configuration, the composite material exhibits the following piezoelectric effect (CH1) parameters in a single layer:

10Hz oscillation: composite material 1 = 156mV

10Hz oscillation: composite material 3 = 240mV

The preferred embodiment of the self-powered bidirectional neuron-electronic device interface technology has been described (which is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive). It should be noted that those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can proceed according to the above teachings Modifications and changes. It should therefore be understood that changes can be made to the specific embodiments disclosed within the scope of the invention outlined in the appended claims. Having described various aspects of the invention, it has the details and features required by the patent law, and the content requested and intended to be protected by the patent certificate is stated in the appended claims.

5‧‧‧ Piezoelectric polymer material

10‧‧‧ Piezoelectric Nanocrystalline Material

15‧‧‧Nano carbon tube

20‧‧‧ Material electric pulse generating layer 20

21‧‧‧Composite electric pulse amplification layer

22‧‧‧Nano carbon tube

23‧‧‧Resin layer

25‧‧‧biological environment interface layer

30‧‧‧Dielectric polymer layer

35‧‧‧Core

36‧‧‧ Nuclear

40‧‧‧External sphere

41‧‧‧External sphere

45‧‧‧ nail / pillar

50‧‧‧Core

55‧‧‧Outer

100‧‧‧Interface structure

The following description will provide details of preferred embodiments with reference to the following drawings, in which:

1 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a thin film and a form factor, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the interface structure includes a piezoelectric polymer substrate and a piezoelectric nanocrystal The first dispersed phase of the material, a composite layer of the second dispersed phase of a carbon nanotube, and a multi-layer structure with at least one biological environment interface layer of grid geometry.

2 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a thin film and a form factor, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the interface structure includes a composite material electrical pulse generating layer; a composite material electrical pulse amplification A multi-layer structure of the layer and at least one biological environment interface layer with a grid geometry.

3 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a thin film and a form factor, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the interface structure includes a composite between two composite material electrical pulse generating layers A material electric pulse amplification layer; and a multi-layer structure with at least one biological environment interface layer of grid geometry.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a thin film and a form factor, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the interface structure includes a composite electrical pulse generating layer and a composite electrical pulse amplification Layer, a layer of piezoelectric composite material without carbon nanotubes, a multilayer layer of a resin layer and a biological environment interface layer.

5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a thin film and a form factor, wherein the interface structure includes a first biological environment interface layer, a first resin layer, and one without The first piezoelectric composite layer of carbon nanotubes, a first composite electrical pulse amplification layer, a composite electrical pulse generation layer, a second composite electrical pulse amplification layer, and a A multilayer stack of two piezoelectric composite material layers, a second resin layer and a second biological environment interface layer.

6 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a thin film and a form factor, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the interface structure is a multilayer structure including a piezoelectric polymer matrix material, a A composite layer of a first dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystalline material and a second dispersed phase of a carbon nanotube; a dielectric polymer layer; and at least one biological environment interface layer having a grid geometry.

7 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a thin film and a form factor, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the interface structure includes an interface between two composite material electrical pulse generating layers An electropolymer layer; and a multilayer structure having at least one biological environment interface layer with a grid geometry.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure, which has a film with a disordered belt geometry and a belt morphology factor.

9 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure, which has a thin film with a Mobius strip geometry and a strip shape factor.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure, which has a film and tape morphology factor in a coiled geometric configuration.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure, which has a three-dimensional form factor in the shape of a sphere with multiple spikes / pillars extending from the outer surface of the sphere.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a three-dimensional form factor of a sphere shape whose core is present in an outer sphere.

13 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a sponge-shaped three-dimensional form factor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure having a three-dimensional form factor that represents a three-dimensional ink dot according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

15 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a three-dimensional form factor of linear geometric configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a neuron-computer bidirectional interface structure with a three-dimensional morphological factor including a geometric configuration of multiple wires according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Claims (20)

An interface structure for a biological environment, comprising: at least one composite electrical pulse generating layer, a substrate phase including a piezoelectric polymer material, a first dispersed phase of piezoelectric nanocrystals, and a carbon nanotube A second dispersed phase, the first and second dispersed phases appear throughout the substrate phase, where the piezoelectric polymer material and piezoelectric nanocrystals convert mechanical motion into electrical pulses and accept electrons to charge the composite material. Layer, and the carbon nanotube provides a path for distributing the isoelectric pulse to one surface of the composite material pulse generating layer in contact with the biological environment, and transports by-products of free radical degradation from the biological environment to the piezoelectric Nanocrystalline and piezoelectric polymer materials. The interface structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one biological environment interface layer is in contact with the surface of the composite material pulse generating layer to provide a multi-layer interface structure, and the electric pulses reaching the surface of the composite material pulse generating layer are generated by the biological The environmental interface layer passes to stimulate the cells in the biological environment. The interface structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one biological environment interface layer is provided by a grid geometry configuration selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, iridium and the like Composed of a group of metals, the composite material pulse generating layer includes the piezoelectric polymer present in a weight percentage ranging from 10% to 99.9%, and present in a weight percentage ranging from 15% to 99.9% Of the piezoelectric nanocrystals, and the carbon nanotubes present in a weight percentage ranging from 0.5% to 1%. The interface structure according to claim 3, wherein the interface structure has a two-dimensional morphology factor, and the two-dimensional morphology factor has a geometric configuration of a strip shape, a lamellar shape, or a combination thereof. The interface structure according to claim 4, wherein the interface structure further includes at least one composite electrical pulse amplification layer including an amplified substrate phase of the piezoelectric polymer material and a first dispersion of the piezoelectric nanocrystals Phase and one of the second dispersed phases of the carbon nanotubes, the first and second dispersed phases appear throughout the amplified substrate phase, wherein the composite pulse amplifying layer has a higher height than the composite pulse generating layer The piezoelectric coefficient of the composite material, the composite material pulse amplifying layer receives electrical pulses from the composite material pulse generating layer, and increases the electric charge of the electrical pulses, and transmits to the at least one biological environment interface layer. The interface structure according to claim 5, wherein the composite material pulse amplifying layer includes the piezoelectric polymer material present in a weight percentage range of 10% to 30%, and the piezoelectric polymer material in a weight percentage range of 70% to 89.0% Isoelectric nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes present in the range of 0.1 to 1 weight percent. The interface structure of claim 6, wherein the at least one composite material pulse generating layer includes two composite material pulse generating layers, wherein one of the two composite material pulse generating layers exists on opposite sides of the composite material pulse amplifying layer In order to provide the cascade amplification of piezoelectric effect caused by pressure-dependent polarization changes. The interface structure of claim 7, wherein the at least one biological environment interface layer includes two grid structures on opposite sides of a material stack, the material stack provides the at least one composite material pulse generating layer and the at least Interface structure of a composite material pulse amplification layer. The interface structure according to claim 6 further includes a double layer of a resin layer and a piezoelectric composite material layer without nanotubes, wherein the double layer is located between the biological environment interface layer and the composite material pulse amplification layer At this time, the piezoelectric layer in which the resin layer is in contact with the biological environment interface layer and does not contain nanotubes is in contact with the pulse amplifying layer of the composite material. The interface structure according to claim 9, wherein the resin layer provides K-Na ion exchange by promoting charge transport and is combined with cation exchange resin particles based on micron-sized sulfonate styrene-crosslinked divinylbenzene Composed of sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK). The interface structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric composite material layer containing no carbon nanotubes includes a piezoelectric polymer matrix present in the piezoelectric composite material layer in a weight percentage ranging from 10% to 30% The material phase and one of the piezoelectric nanocrystalline dispersed phases present in all of the substrate phases are present in the composite material in a weight percentage ranging from 70% to 90%. The interface structure of claim 1 further includes a dielectric polymer layer adjacent to the composite material pulse generating layer. The interface structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface structure has a three-dimensional morphological factor selected from the group consisting of a substantially spherical shape, a substantially spherical shape with protrusions, a sponge, a linear shape, a dendritic structure, a paste, and the like. The interface structure according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric polymer material has a composition selected from the group consisting of: polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyfluoride containing trifluoroethylene (TrFE) Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) copolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) copolymer containing tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) containing tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and trifluoroethylene (TrFE) ) Copolymer, nylon 11, poly (vinylidene divinyl acetate) and combinations thereof. The interface structure according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric polymer material is polyvinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene having a beta (β) phase. The interface structure according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric nanocrystals are piezoelectric ceramic materials with crystals selected from the group consisting of lead zirconate (PbZrO ₃ ), lead titanate (PbTiO ₃ ), and combinations thereof A component of the formed group. The interface structure of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric nanocrystal has a linear geometric configuration. The interface structure according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric nanocrystal is a single crystal piezoelectric material having a composition (1-χ) PbZn _1/3 Nb _2/3 O _3-χ PbTiO ₃ (PZNT). The interface structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric nanocrystal has a group selected from the group consisting of Li-doped (K, Na) NbO ₃ , Ba (Ce _x Ti _1-x O ₃ ) and combinations thereof Composition. The interface structure according to claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes include single-walled carbon nanotubes or multi-walled carbon nanotubes.